Mata do Jacaré Ecological Station


The Mata do Jacaré Ecological Station, formerly the São Carlos Ecological Station, is an ecological station in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It preserves an isolated fragment of the Atlantic Forest biome, with semi-deciduous riparian vegetation.

History

The Jacaré Forest with an area of in the municipality of Brotas, São Paulo, was established by state decree 38.957 of 25 August 1961.
This became the São Carlos Ecological Station (Estação Ecológica de São Carlos

Environment

The Mata do Jacaré has typical seasonal semi-deciduous forest vegetation of the Atlantic Forest biome, one of the last fragments of such forest in the São Carlos region.
The unit has riparian vegetation. It is an isolated fragment surrounded by sugar cane fields.
A 2002 study found only 145 species of birds, with a low incidence of endangered species. This appeared to be due to the small size and isolation of the unit.
An extension of protection around the area has been proposed both to conserve biodiversity and to maintain the water quality of the reservoir.